Lady Monarchs Fall at VCU, 81-68

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University took down the Old Dominion University women’s basketball team by the score of 81-68 on Monday night at the Siegel Center. The Rams advance their overall season record to 12-1, while ODU falls to 6-6 on the year.

The Atlantic 10’s leading scorer to this point, Robyn Parks, scored the first 12 second half points for Virginia Commonwealth en route to a 27 point and 11 rebound performance on Monday night.

Old Dominion trailed by four points (41-37) at halftime, before VCU managed to stretch their lead to 66-49 with 11:32 left in regulation. The Lady Monarchs continued to fight their way back into the ballgame, trailing just 66-60 with 8:39 to play when senior Lady Monarch guard Becca Allison was whistled for a charge on an attempted layup. That would be as close as ODU would get the rest of the way.

Shae Kelley led the way for ODU with 23 points and 10 rebounds, giving the junior her eighth double-double of the season. Also in double figures for the Lady Monarchs were Chelisa Painter and Galaisha Goodhope (five steals), who scored 11 points apiece.

For the game, VCU shot 47.8% (32-67) from the floor, 37.5% (6-16) from three and 78.6% (11-14) from the free-throw line; ODU shot 41.0% (25-61) from the floor, 29.4% (5-17) from behind the arc and 68.4% (13-19) from the charity stripe.

FIRST HALF NOTESVirginia Commonwealth University connected on six of their first nine field goal attempts and jumped out to a 14-4 advantage at the 15:43 mark. The Lady Monarchs continued to fight back when Galaisha Goodhope created a steal and a layup giving ODU a 15-14 lead with 12:42 showing on the clock.

VCU answered back with a 5-0 run of their own to recapture the lead at the under-12 media timeout, 19-15. Isis Thorpe (3-3 3PT) nailed her first five attempts from the floor for 13 points. With 7:44 to go, VCU held a 26-20 lead over the Lady Monarchs.

Robyn Parks hit a three-pointer lifting VCU’s advantage to 34-24 with 5:05 remaining in the half. With 1:11 left, ODU trailed VCU, 41-31. Old Dominion would end up scoring the half’s final six points, cutting their deficit to 41-37 at the half.